Practical Information

Taiwan may not be as well-known as Japan or Hong Kong but it is a modern country that lies on a very interesting cultural crossroads between China and Japan in terms of experience for an international traveller. It has its own rules and codes to be aware of when contemplating a visit.

Tipping

To put it simply tipping is not expected but always appreciated. The exceptions to this rule would be service personnel and bellhops in international hotels. In case of restaurants if a tip is required the establishment will simply add 10-15% to your bill.

Similar rules apply to taxis. No tips are expected and if you insist on giving your driver a tip it will most likely only confuse him. If there is a surcharge, like during night hours, it will be included in the final price.

Local Business Hours

Taiwan's time zone is GMT+8 and similarly to Singapore it does not participate in Daylight Savings Time.
Five-day work weeks are common for certain kind of businesses with 09:00 to 18:00 business hours but this is not a rule for others.

Especially when planning to visit a restaurant you’re advised to check with them to make sure they’re opened. A lot of particularly local restaurants close between 14:00 and 17:00. For more detailed information check the following table.

Post Offices

Taiwan’s post or the Chunghwa Post Co., Ltd. as its official name stands is the national postal office of the R.O.C. that provides both international and domestic postal services.Customer Service Centre hotline: 0800-700-365 or (04)23542030 if you’re using a mobile phone.

To find out more about postage rates click here.

Water

Generally speaking, tap water in Taiwan is not safe to drink without filtration. Water or ice that you’re served in restaurants is typically of this kind and should be safe to drink. It is best to both filter and boil the water before drinking.

Please note that the water quality in the city of Kaohsiung is worse than most other places.Additionally, Taiwan is in a seismically active zone. Although the majority of the earthquakes are small and do not pose a serious risk, it also means that the pipes that deliver water to everyone are more easily damaged.

Once damaged, contaminants can enter the water prior to it reaching the tap.Luckily, water fountains with in-build filtration systems are very common in Taiwan. You can find them in restaurants, hotels, museums, MRT stations etc.

Internet

High-speed internet connection is available throughout the island through various free Wi-Fi spots like iTaiwan, TPE-Free, New Taipei, iTaichung etc. The Internet country code domains are .tw. and .com.tw.  Back in 2011 free public Wi-Fi in Taipei has been launched. That has been following by setting up 4,400 “iTaiwan” Wi-Fi hotspots around the island. As a tourist all you need is a passport and you can apply for an iTaiwan account at a Taiwan Tourism Bureau service counter.

Electricity

Standard voltage of electrical supply: 110V. Standard frequency of electrical supply: 60Hz. Home appliances from other parts of the world like Europe, Australia or South-East Asia will need an adaptor or a transformer.

A large number of buildings also have sockets with 220V most commonly for air conditioning machines. 

Phones

The country code is +886. A local SIM card for your mobile phone can be purchased in one of Taiwan’s mobile network operators’ numerous shops. Some of the most well-known operators are Chunghwa Telecom, Far Eastone Telecommunications or Taiwan Mobile.